The November, Red Hot Summer Tour 2023/4 Perth spectacular was sure to be a memorable day with an exceptional lineup of artists. It seems the team at RHS know what the people want because the punters were there en masse. Merry music lovers entered the Sandalford Winery in droves ready for a jam-packed day of entertainment.
I completely misjudged the length of time it would take to drive from my home to my spot on the lawn. Traffic was at a standstill and parking was a challenge, obviously an indication of a mighty good line up and that people were keen to get there early. There was a one hour wait to move a few kilometres and sadly by the time I arrived, I completely missed Sam & Sam while Mahalia Barnes and the Soulmates set was nearly finished. Word on the street was Mahalia was amazing. A few sound issues, but she soldiered on and continued to perform while technical difficulties were ironed out. From the carpark, she was on point. I’m really disappointed I missed her.
Kasey Chambers was welcomed on stage under a clear blue sky. Settling into a song list of well-loved hits, Chambers opened with Barricades and Brickwalls. Instantly, the crowd was abuzz, singing along and raising the energy at the front of stage. Pretty Enough was song two, prompting some great crowd participation. Chambers’ commented how wonderful it was to see a big, burly, bearded man singing along with great gusto! She also noted how much she’s grown since she wrote this song. Now rather than asking if she’s not pretty enough, she doesn’t actually give a fuck. We all cheered, hooray!
Country folk story telling music followed with a tonne of soul. A Chamberfied version of Eminem’s Lose Yourself was a standout. Arguably, Chambers’ most beloved song, The Captain, saw her bring her two sons on stage to perform. A beautiful moment for Chambers and her fans. A very talented family to be sure! Chambers finished with We’re All Gonna Die Some Day, a perfect way to set up a foot tappin’ procession to the bar.
Ever-attractive, Pete Murray picked up the baton, entering the stage with his guitar and band opening with Always a Winner. Pete’s trademark laid back style was the perfect accompaniment for a 29-degree Perth day with a few coldies, camp chairs and nibbles. Bail Me Out and Opportunity followed, while punters sang and danced at front of stage. A tight, well received set from the get-go, Pete continued to warm up the crowd, like only he can. Smooth tones, great music and endless sunshine.
By this stage, the RHST was living up to its name with some red hot burnt faces, backs and necks. For a lot of the audience, the only shade they had seen all day was from the intermittent shadowing from a descending airbus overhead. The Perth flight path happens to be over Sandalford Winery! Pete finished with Tonic and Better Days. The latter most likely an appropriate song for punters at the end of the night. Mr Murray was a delight for all. Also, has anybody seen Pete on the cover of Men’s Health? You should google it.
Props to RHST for their event model, allowing fans to enter and exit front of stage with a huge area for dancing and getting up close to their favourite artists. None of this pay to be upfront business. It’s a huge draw card for many people and makes for amazing energy front of stage. Tremendous value at $140 per ticket with hours of next level entertainment. Sink into a cosy camp chair or lose yourself dancing in the pit. I love it.
Obvious crowd favourites, The Living End, exploded onto the stage like an atom bomb. Hold onto your wide-brimmed hats and wine glasses people! Opening with I Can’t Give You What I Haven’t Got, the perfect paced song before thrusting the crowd into Second Solution taking it from one hundred to one thousand in one second. Much jumping, singing, dancing and general happiness ensued.
Punters lapped up the trio’s all or nothing, power packed, hard-hitting set with absolutely no breathing space. Stand out songs Pictures In The Mirror, West End Riot and of course, the grand finale, Prisoner of Society.
It wouldn’t be a true Living End gig without stage antics, including Cheney playing his guitar with a stubbie (then drinking complete stubbie), double bass acrobatics and much finger pointing. Catchy songs, grit and pure energy on stage. The guys were all feeling the heat, performing in the hottest part of the day and Cheney did comment if he was to die on stage, he’d be happy with that. He’d get buried next to Bon Scott in Fremantle and we could all visit him on Australia Day!
It’s true, these guys just keep getting better. There were technical issues with Cheney’s sound which he gallantly pushed through as best he could but ask anyone who witnessed this set and they’ll tell you they didn’t care. The band was on fire. Watching the punters return to their seats from the pit was a joy. Energised, laughing arm in arm, huge smiles – it is exactly what live music is all about!
With the crowd warmed up to its fullest, WA boys, Birds of Tokyo hit the stage while the sun was nestling behind the trees. Punters could sense the band were genuinely excited to be playing their iconic music in their hometown. BOT big stadium sound boomed across the lawn opening with Smith Street and Plans. Anchor and Two of Us followed, with front man, Ian Kenny’s voice in fine form.
Punters relished in the cooler temperatures as daylight faded and we enjoyed the stage lighting to it’s fullest. Kenny proudly announced they’d be debuting their new single, Lion, live for the first time to a home crowd, and it didn’t disappoint. Fans and punters alike, truly appreciated the sentiment as BOT delivered their newest baby for us all to see and take in.
Stand out moment of the night for BOT was undoubtedly Lanterns, as the rolling lawns were lit up by the lights from mobile phones of the crowd, swaying in the evening breeze. A magical moment for everybody, united in song. Beautiful vibrations all around. BOT were the perfect addition to an already amazing lineup.
We were all rewarded with a 30-minute break before the master himself, Jimmy Barnes hit the stage. If you were hoping to be down the front for this performance you would have had to skip the restroom visit. You did not want to lose position in the pit! Another case of everybody already knowing what they were in for. Always standing room only for Jimmy. He knows how to work the stage and we love him for it.
Jimmy had posted on his socials before visiting WA, he was working on a set list with a few songs thrown in, that he hadn’t played in a while. It’s always great to hear the songs you know and die-hard fans always remember if they’ve heard a particular song live or not. Hopefully Jimmy’s set list ticked a few boxes for those of you who’ve seen him many times! It’s great that Jimmy appreciates it too.
Onstage with his beloved Jane and his family see’s Barnes at his best. Opening with Flesh and Blood followed up by I’d Die to Be With You Tonight and Wheels in Motion. Punters singing along with every word. Jimmy Barnes under the stars belting out his greatest hits. How lucky we all were to witness it.
Without noting the entire set list, my stand outs Lay Down Your Guns, Ride The Night Away, Love is Enough and Driving Wheels. The ultimate being everybody’s anthem of choice, Flame Trees. Oh Perth, you were in fine voice on this beautiful evening. Tingles as we all sang with such heart!
A phenomenal day and evening of live music. No better way to spend a sunny Saturday at Sandalford Winery. If someone could beam me out of the carpark and home in a second at the end of the night it would be even better.
Celebrating and enjoying live music in beautiful surrounds with friends and family is a real privilege certainly not lost on the people who attended. Thank you RHST team and extended teams, contractors and artists for creating and delivering an exceptional day of music. We truly appreciate your dedication, commitment and delivery. Cheers and see you next year!
Photos by Sharon Burgess Photography – Words by Gregg Burgess
With thanks to Face to Face Touring and Menard PR for the media access
GALLERY
